Education in the United States is free and compulsory for 0 years, beginning at age and culminating at age 16

Tertiary Education in the United States

Troy UniversityFollowing secondary school, students who wish to earn a degree, vocational diploma or trade certificate are afforded many options through which they can continue their education. Some of the institutions that provide these programs include junior or community colleges; private vocational institutes; and public and private colleges and universities.
Junior Colleges (Community Colleges) and Private Vocational Institutions
Junior or community colleges offer an array of programs designed to help a wide variety of students meet their educational and career goals. Students who ultimately intend to pursue an academic degree at the college or university level can tackle the initial two years of that degree, also called the “general education requirements,” at a junior college and earn an Associate’s Degree in the process. Junior colleges allow underclassmen to take specific lower-level subject requirements and transfer the credits they earn to the college or university of their choice. Not only do these institutions represent an affordable option to a high-cost university, they allow students (with a less-than-stellar high school resume) to take and pass courses that will ultimately help them qualify for university admittance.
Although junior colleges are primarily known as academic institutions, they also offer scores of vocational pathways for students and an opportunity to earn a diploma or certification in a specific career field or trade. Like private vocational institutions, the programs they offer are designed for students seeking a much more rapid track through which to earn the credentials they need for their chosen career. Some of the specialized programs offered at junior colleges and private vocational institutions include:

• 
  Auto Mechanics and Body Repair
  
• 
  Iron and Metal Workers
  
• 
  Construction
  
• 
  Real Estate
  
• 
  HVAC (heating and air conditioning)
  
• 
  Cosmetology
  
• 
  Dental and Medical Assisting
  
• 
  Pharmacy Technician
  
• 
  Electrician
  
• 
  Medical billing and Coding, and
  
• 
  Many, many more
  

The vocational programs at junior colleges and private vocational institutes typically span between 1 and 2 years. Upon completion, graduates receive a diploma or certificate making them eligible to pursue a career position in their chosen field, and in many cases, the college or institute will also offer job placement assistance as part of the program.
The Widener library of Harvard University, SourceColleges and Universities